A Korean folk music tradition, pungmul is the musical expression of an indigenous Korean cosmology that situates people within the natural world and revolves around the harmony between nature and people. Pungmul involves drumming, dancing, and singing. It utilizes four main percussion instruments. The two gongs signify the heavens, while the two drums signify earth. Each instrument also corresponds to a particular element of nature. The small gong symbolizes thunder and lightning. The large gong symbolizes the wind. The hour-glass drum symbolizes rain, and the barrel drum symbolizes clouds. The playing of these instruments thus signifies the harmony of nature and people. As a musical tradition that is practiced in Korean communities across the world, pungmul also represents the cultural heritage of Koreans. The Global Pungmul Institute chose SoriBeat as the name of its performance troupe for the richness of its symbolic meanings, which tie together pungmul cosmology, the Institute mission, and Korean American heritage.

Rhythm Connections is the collaborative music ensemble presented by Global Pungmul Institute (GPI) that is a community-based cultural and educational organization dedicated to developing and promoting traditional Korean cultural and performing arts. The Ensemble was founded in 2014 when the former Artist-in-Residence of GPI, So Ra Kim led the very first concert of Rhythm Connections. Currently, Rhythm Connections is composed of six members including three Korean traditional musicians and three Western musicians. Members of Rhythm Connections has performed at various Chicago-based events such as 19th & 20th Annual Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival, 7th Annual Lunar Ball Chicago, Silk Road to Asia Festival 2014, and Korean Street Festival, and at various venues such as Ganz Hall, Mendelssohn Theatre in Ann Arbor, Elastic in Chicago, Chicago History Museum, Comfort Station in Chicago, Chicago Theater Alley, Constellation in Chicago, and South Shore Cultural Center.

Project Ul-ssi-gu seeks to foster a global sense of community by designating August 15 for street performances of pungmul around the world. August 15 marks Korea’s liberation from colonial rule, and as such is an appropriate day to celebrate community through pungmul. As we play pungmul and engage audiences to cry out “Ul-ssi-gu joht-ta!” on that day, the globe will resound with drumming in celebration of culture and community in light of international peace. Project Ul-ssi-gu 2014 was successfully done with 15 pungmul troupes from eight different countries including the USA, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea. In 2015, 22 teams from six different countries participated in Project UL-SSI-GU 2015 to celebrate the Liberation Day of Korea and the end of World War II. Appreciative members of the audience call out “Ul-ssi-gu joht-ta!” as they enjoy pungmul, Korean drumming. This simple, joyful exclamation ties together the players and the audience, binding them within the drumming experience of pungmul. The audience’s cries of “Ul-ssi-gu joht-ta!” and the answering rhythms of the players are an expression of community ties.